Caladium plant named ‘Party Punch’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Party Punch’, characterized by its upright and somewhat mounding plant habit; intermediate plant size; uniform plant habit; vigorous and dense growth habit; fancy-type leaves with dark red-colored venation, greyed purple-colored interveinal areas with light and dark red purple-colored spots and surrounded with dark green-colored borders; and good landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PARTY PUNCH’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Caladium plant named ‘Bombshell’.

Applicant: Robert Dale Hartman.

Filed: Dec. 29, 2011.

Ser. No.: Filed concurrently with this application (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/374,456).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Party Punch’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive foliage coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2007, in Avon Park, Fla. of a proprietary selection of Caladium×hortulanum identified as code number WS-03-36, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘Red Flash’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. in September, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by ‘chipping’ the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments, each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. since April, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Party Punch’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Party Punch’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat mounding plant habit; intermediate plant         size.     -   2. Uniform plant habit.     -   3. Vigorous and dense growth habit.     -   4. Fancy-type leaves with dark red-colored venation, greyed         purple-colored interveinal areas with light and dark red         purple-colored spots and surrounded with dark green-colored         borders.     -   5. Good landscape performance.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are taller than and not as         mounding as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are ovate in shape         whereas leaves of plants of the female plant selection are         lanceolate in shape.     -   3. Leaf margins of plants of the new Caladium are not as         undulate as leaf margins of plants of the female parent         selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and the female parent selection         differ in leaf coloration as leaves of plants of the female         parent selection have pink-colored centers, rose pink-colored         primary venation, green and white-colored interveinal areas and         dark green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Red Flash’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are shorter than and not as         upright as plants of ‘Red Flash’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of ‘Red         Flash’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Red Flash’ differ in leaf         coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Red Flash’ have red-colored         venation and interveinal areas with pink-colored spots and dark         green-colored background and borders.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of ‘Bombshell’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Caladium are more mounding than plants of ‘Bombshell’. In addition, plants of the new Caladium and ‘Bombshell’ differ in leaf petiole and leaf coloration.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium ‘Rosebud’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Avon Park, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Rosebud’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were taller and more upright than         plants of ‘Rosebud’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grew slower than plants of         ‘Rosebud’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Rosebud’ differed in leaf         coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Rosebud’ had pink-colored         venation and interveinal areas surrounded by whitish-colored         areas and green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of Caladium ‘Carolyn Whorton’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Avon Park, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Carolyn Whorton’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were shorter than and not as         upright as plants of ‘Carolyn Whorton’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grew faster than plants of         ‘Carolyn Whorton’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Carolyn Whorton’ differed in         leaf coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Carolyn Whorton’ had         deep rose red-colored venation with pink-colored blotches and         green-colored borders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Party Punch’ grown in a 15-cm container in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Party Punch’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers and roots of ‘Party Punch’.

The photograph on third sheet is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘Party Punch’ grown in 15-cm containers, the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of the female parent selection (left), ‘Party Punch’ (center) and the male parent, ‘Red Flash’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of ‘Rosebud’ (left), ‘Party Punch’ (center) and ‘Carolyn Whorton’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 15-cm containers in Avon Park, Fla. in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% shade) and plants grown during the autumn in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Zolfo Springs, Fla. All plants were grown under environmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial shadehouse and outdoor nursery Caladium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 33° C. (shadehouse) or 29° C. to 35° C. (outdoor nursery), night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. (shadehouse) or 23° C. to 26° C. (outdoor nursery) and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles (shadehouse) or 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles (outdoor nursery). Plants grown in the shadehouse were eight weeks old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. Plants grown in the outdoor nursery were seven months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Party Punch’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Caladium×hortulanum identified as code number WS-03-36, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Red Flash’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             ovate in shape. Height: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About             4.7 cm. Texture: Thick and starchy; somewhat brittle. Color:             Epidermis, freshly harvested, close to 199C to 199D and             200A; epidermis, dried tuber, close to 200A to 200B;             interior, close to 2C to 2D and 150D; axillary buds, close             to 155B. Root description: Thick, fleshy contractile roots;             color, close to 155D. Rooting habit: Few lateral branches;             moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and somewhat mounding plant             habit; intermediate plant size; inverted triangle; vigorous             and dense growth habit; rapid growth rate; petioles and             leaves arise from one or more growing points on tubers;             petioles mostly upright and leaning outwardly with             development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 29 cm to 37 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About 37 cm to 42 cm.         -   Number of clumps per plant, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About six from de-eyed tubers.         -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About             5.5 cm to 10.5 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm to 2.2 cm. Shape:             Lanceolate to elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Sheathing the             stem. Color, outer surface: Close to N170D tinged with close             to 185D and 182D, stippled and tessellated with close to             199D and tinged with close to 147A to 147B; with             development, color becoming closer to 199D and 199A tinged             with close to 187A to 187B. Color, inner surface: Close to             N155C, outer surface colors and patterns visible. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 17 cm to 23.7             cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants (flattened).—About 12             cm to 16.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate to acute.         -   Base.—Sagittate, peltate.         -   Margin.—Entire; mostly flat with broad undulations.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glaucous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing leaves,             upper surface: Basal notch: Close to 187A. Midrib and             primary venation: Close to 53B. Areas surrounding venation:             Close to 185C and 53D. Secondary venation: Close to 147A to             147B. Interveinal areas: Close to 185A, 184A and mottled             areas, close to 147B and 194B; random spots, close to 65A.             Borders: Close to 147A tinged with close to 137A. Margins:             Close to 187A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Basal             notch: Close to 187B. Midrib and primary venation: Close to             185A to 185B. Areas surrounding venation: Close to 185C.             Interveinal areas: Close to 194D tinged with close to N155D,             191A; random spots, close to 49D. Borders: Close to 191A             tinged with close to N186C. Margins: Close to 187A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Basal notch: Close to 187A.             Midrib and primary venation: Close to 53A to 53B. Secondary             venation: Close to 139A. Interveinal areas: Close to 185A             and 185B or mottled 139A and 185C; random spots, close to             59D and 65A. Borders: Close to 147A and 139A. Margins: Close             to 187A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Basal notch:             Close to 187A. Midrib and primary venation: Close to 185B.             Areas surrounding venation: Close to 185B to 185C. Secondary             venation: Close to 147B overlain with close to 194D and             158D. Interveinal areas: Close to 189A and 191A and also             tinged with close to N186C; random spots, close to 49C to             49D and 56A. Margins: Close to 187A.         -   Color, field-grown plants.—Developing leaves, upper surface:             Basal notch: Close to N186C. Midrib and primary venation:             Close to 59B to 59C. Areas surrounding venation: Close to             185C. Secondary venation: Close to 147A overlain with close             to 192D. Interveinal areas: Random sectors and spots, close             to 155C and 192D. Margins: Close to 147A. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Basal notch: Close to 187A. Area between             basal notch and leaf petiole attachment: Close to 187C.             Midrib and primary venation: Close to 182D flecked and             streaked with close to 184C. Areas surrounding venation:             Close to 184C to 184D. Interveinal areas: Random sectors,             close to 191A to 191B, close to 147D tinged with close to             184C, close to 147B to 147D, and close to 147B variably             tinged with close to N186C; random spots, close to 192D and             155C. Margins: Close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Basal notch: Close to N186C. Midrib and primary             venation: Close to 184A and 59B. Areas surrounding venation:             Darker than 183C. Interveinal areas: Close to 147A and             N189A; random spots, flecks and fine speckles, close to             155C, 146A and 147A. Margins: Close to 147A. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Basal notch: Close to N187C. Area             between basal notch and leaf petiole attachment: Close to             187A to 187B. Midrib and primary venation: Close to 195C and             N170D. Areas surrounding venation: Close to 184C.             Interveinal areas: Close to 189A variably tinged with close             to N186C; random spots, close to 193A and 147C. Margins:             Close to 147A.         -   Petiole.—Aspect: Mostly erect, slightly outwardly leaning             with development; flexible. Length, shadehouse-grown potted             plants: About 24 cm to 29.8 cm. Diameter, distal,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 4.5 mm to 6 mm.             Diameter, proximal, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About             6.5 mm to 10 mm. Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants:             Close to N170D or N170D tinged with close to 185D, stippled             and tessellated with close to 199B tinged with close to 147A             and variably and boldly striped with close to 200A tinged             with close to 147A; below the leaf/petiole junction, close             to 185D or 185D striped with close to 185B. Wing length,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 4 cm to 4.7 cm. Wing             diameter, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 5 mm to             8 mm. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted plants, outer             surface: Close to N170D tinged with close to 185D and 182D,             stippled and tessellated with close to 199D tinged with             close to 147A to 147B. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted             plants, inner surface: Close to 155C, outer surface colors             and patterns visible. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescence initiation and development     have not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease & pest tolerance/resistance: Plants of the new Caladium have     been observed to have above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf     Spot and to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot. Plants of     the new Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests     and other pathogens common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about     40° C. and suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Party Punch’ as illustrated and described. 